Graham was loved by most within the athletic department for working to create a better atmosphere, even by doing little things like repainting the athletic offices to make the environment more welcoming. Here is what CSU coaches who were willing to speak, former student-athletes and a high-end donor had to say about Graham and his firing:

"It's like we talk about all the time with our team. We have to adapt, adjust and overcome. Tony has great leadership, not only of this university, but I look forward to being the coach here and building something the Ram fans can be proud of and this town can be proud of and the whole Front Range can be proud of.

"Not at all (concerned about what this could mean for the stadium). Tony has been supportive. Obviously, it's one of those things that the board of governors and him are going to be talking about in October, I guess it is. I don't see where it could (affect it) one way or the other."

—Jim McElwain

CSU football coach

"This is between Tony and Jack. I know Jack had a lot of constituents around the university. From my perspective, he treated us very well and had a lot of respect for our sport. I also believe a lot of the support for athletics we've got has to do with Tony Frank, being a president who likes athletics. I think the vision is the same, we just have to do what we do. I have to go coach a team this season.

"I don't think (athletic success) is just Jack's vision. We have president who has a grand vision of what we should be doing that includes a stadium. I think Jack was the lead person, but I don't think it was just his vision. I think it was Tony's, too. I speak with our president, I know he wants athletics to do very well."

—Tom Hilbert

CSU volleyball coach

"Me and Jack, we did have a relationship, as much as you could with an athletic director. It's not like we talked every day, but you know.. After I told him I was leaving CSU, he gave me a chance to earn some money and work on his farm. That's just crazy that he got fired."

—Jon Octeus

Former CSU men's basketball player, now playing at UCLA

"We got to know him on the fly, but he was definitely a visionary. He had this vision of what he wanted CSU to be. I thought he was on the path to execute that.

He was big for us and big in his attitude of wanting to get CSU on the map, wanted them to be on the map every year in all sports. He had the same vision we did when we signed with CSU, making CSU know. He took our basketball program to the next level by hiring coach (Larry) Eustachy."

—Dorian Green

Former CSU men's basketball player

"I'm having a hard time processing all of this. I can't see it. The only thing I could I see happening was maybe some type of violation happened that I didn't know about or something went wrong with stadium funding, but I have no idea.

I haven't seen a person more active talking to donors, working with athletes and everything. He was the first person, other than coach (Ross) Hodge, to reach out and try to get me to stay at CSU when I wanted to transfer. I don't know a single athlete who doesn't like him. I've never seen an athletic director do things like he did and make this school click. Him and (his wife) Ginger cared about us so much."

—Dwight Smith

Former CSU men's basketball player, now playing at Northern Colorado

"I think it's a real tragedy. I'll say that in that Jack is trying to elevate CSU's athletic program to a different level. Apparently that doesn't satisfy a lot of people in that university. ... I just think it's sad that somebody who is not from the academic world that would make a commitment to fort Collins, buy a home, and do all the things he did, that he didn't have to do, to try to elevate this program — it feels to me like he didn't get a full chance. But what do I know? I can't really say.

"Somebody's going to have to come out with a clear statement as to what it is we're trying to do. ... I hope (anti-stadium group SOSH) is happy."

—Steve Stoltz

Ram Club member for 22 years

CSU men's basketball coach Larry Eustachy would not comment and the Rams' media relations office said it was not in a position to facilitate interviews with current student-athlete regarding Graham's termination.

CSU athletic director Jack Graham hugs Dorian Green as the seniors are honored. Scenes from the CSU seniors' last home game on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo. Dawn Madura/Fort Collins Coloradoan

CSU's athletic director Jack Graham greets CSU players as the Rams take the court for the game against UTEP during college basketball action in Fort Collins, Colo. January 2, 2013. Rich Abrahamson/The Coloradoan

CSU president Tony Frank, right, speaks about the meeting's intent to discuss whether to proceed with attempting to design and fund an on-campus stadium at CSU as CSU athletic director Jack Graham listens, at left, on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at the North Ballroom at the Lory Student Center in Fort Collins. Dawn Madura/The Coloradoan

CSU athletic director Jack Graham talks with students in line at CSU where students line up to buy tickets Wednesday Feb. 20, 2013, for the Rams' upcoming game versus the University of New Mexico V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan

The Colorado State University men's basketball team's head coach, Larry Eustachy, runs practice, and CSU athletic director Jack Graham watches for a few minutes on his way through the arena, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins. Dawn Madura/The Coloradoan

CSU athletic director Jack Graham, left, and former Rams athletic director Mark Driscoll are pictured at Hughes Stadium in 1974. Both played quarterback for the Rams that season. Courtesy of CSU Athletics.

CSU head football coach, Jim McElwain, second from right, hands the game ball to Wyoming coach, Dave Christensen, at the Colorado/Wyoming border Friday Nov. 2, 2012. as part of an annual ritual ofthe CSU ROTC cadets running the game ball from Hughes Stadium to the border, where it is taken by ROTC cadets from the University of Wyoming and then run to their stadium. On the far left is Wyoming athletic director, Tom Burman, and on the far right is CSU athletic director Jack Graham. V. Richard Haro/Coloradoan

Major Keith Archibald, right, of the CSU ROTC, hands the game ball to CSU athletic director Jack Graham at the Colorado/Wyoming border Friday Nov. 2, 2012. as part of an annual ritual ofthe CSU ROTC cadets running the game ball from Hughes Stadium to the border, where it is taken by ROTC cadets from the University of Wyoming and then run to their stadium. V. Richard Haro/Coloradoan

Former CSU standout Greg Meyers, second from left, and his family from left, son Dagan, 6, daughter Avery, 9, and wife Kara holds Meyers plaque honoring him for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame during half time of the game with Fresno State at Hughes Stadium Oct. 7, 2012. Also pictured with the family are athletic director Jack Graham, left, and former CSU football coach Sonny Lubick. Rich Abrahamson/The Coloradoan

Jack Graham Colorado State athletic director Jack Graham fields questions from the media after being named as the university's new athletic director during a press conference at the Fum McGraw Athletic Center at Colordo State in Fort Collins, Colo. Thursday December 1, 2011. Graham, a former CSU football player, replaces Paul Kowalczyk who joined the university in 2006. Coloradoan library

CSU President Tony Frank, left, introduces Jack Graham as the university's new athletic director Thursday December 1, 2011. Graham, a former CSU football player, replaces Paul Kowalczyk who joined the university in 2006. Rich Abrahamson/The Coloradoan LCL:STF

CSU athletic director Jack Graham fields questions from the media after being named as the university's new athletic director during a press conference at the Fum McGraw Athletic Center Thursday December 1, 2011. Graham, a former CSU football player, replaces Paul Kowalczyk who joined the university in 2006. Rich Abrahamson/The Coloradoan LCL:STF

CSU athletic director Jack Graham speaks to the men gathered on Thursday, March 7, 2013, about men's health during the March MAN-ness event at The Mayor of Old Town in Fort Collins. Graham also spoke about his experience having a heart attack. The event, which was sponsored by University of Colorado Health, featured a cocktail of both fun and sobering ingredients, including sports trivia, beer and pizza and a question and answer session with primary care, oncology, cardiology, and urology doctors. Dawn Madura/The Coloradoan